Nudge List- Intro.

As one who came of age before Blackberries,iphones and computers. And as one who would not claim getting and staying organized as among his better traits, I confess to being one who writes notes to himself: on envelopes,napkins, newspapers, coffee cups, business cards. In short, I scribble notes to myself on any available paper surface in order to remember what I want or need to remember. Unfortunately, I often don't remember where I've put the scraps on which I wrote the notes to myself.

So here is a list, gleaned from notepads, cigar boxes, and glove compartments, of things I'd like to see happen in New Albany if I'm elected to a second term. That is to say, these are things I would like to help bring to fruition. Most of these issues are not fully within my or any other council member's ability to bring about. They primarily fall within the ambit of the Mayor. He could pick up some of these ideas and run with them. The next mayor has a list of projects and priorities that he will want to pursue. Whether any of my plans are to be found on any of the mayoral candidates' lists I can't say.

I'm not referring to this as a list of campaign promises. I hope it is more than a wish list. I think of it more as a nudge list. Some of these are things I will be introducing on my own, but more likely I will be nudging the Mayor to see the value of these plans, projects or dreams, and to offer my help from the Council to make them reality. A common characteristic of most of these bullet points is that they are not, for the most part, expensive undertakings. Rather, they are quality-of-life projects that can be put into practice on a relative shoestring. Another common thread -- they tend to capitalize on the investments our forebears have already made for us.

If we learn nothing else from the closing of the Sherman Minton bridge, we should recognize that saving money is fine, getting by on less is sometimes necessary, but our physical civic infrastructure, sometimes referred to as The Commons, requires attention. In times past, people recognized this and accepted upkeep of The Commons as society's cost of doing business. We must be about that business again, and many of these ideas, I think, are ways we can do that right here in New Albany. These are ways we can make what we have better, and make our city more liveable, functional and prosperous.

All I'm writing here now is the list of notes I've made. From now through the election I'll explain what I mean about them and why I think they're important.

In no particular order:

Shirt Factory Incubator
Improved Web Site for Our City
Dog Park
Community Gardens
Take Advantage of Falling Run Creek
Challenge Zones--Incentives for Re-Developers
K & I Bridge, City Pays Insurance to Allow Bridge to Open
Continued Progress on Code Enforcement
Cherry Street Project, NSP
Sidewalks Where None Exist
Explore Feasibility of Form-Based Codes
Expansion of Farmers' Market
Stronger Ties to I.U.S.
Proper Structure and Balance in City-County Agreements
Expose Brick Streets
Expanded Use of Courts to Aid Code Enforcement
What Follows EMC?
Continued Progress on Revitalization Downtown and on Charlestown Road
Point System to Weight Purchasing Decisions in Favor of Local Producers/Sellers

While this list may seem long, it isn't complete. I haven't even checked the pockets of the coats I put away last spring.